Many people travel with their dog’s and cats when they vacation in Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate and Bonita Springs. Pet’s are part of our family and so it is only fair they get to come along to enjoy the beautiful temperature Naples has to offer. Whether you are visiting your family in the Golden Gate area for the holidays, or a ‘snowbird’ spending the season in Naples, our Veterinarians at Town and Country Animal Hospital have some suggestions before travelling with your pet.
Clients often ask our veterinarians at Town and Country Animal Hospital in Naples questions about travelling with their pets. Depending on your point of origin some people choose to fly or drive and in some instances a plane ride is the only way to get here. Seeking Veterinary advice in advance of your travel can help make the process less stressful for both you and your pet.
IDENTIFICATION
Make sure your pet has a visible ID tag on their collar that provides current phone numbers where you can be immediately reached. A visible tag on their collar will allow for immediate identification if your pet should become separated from you. Collars are not always reliable as they can either fall off or be removed. Microchipping is a permanent form of identification and our Veterinarians at Town and Country Animal Hospital strongly recommend that all pet’s be microchipped. Microchipping is a quick and relatively painless non-surgical procedure that can be performed by our Veterinarians. The cost of the microchip includes the microchip, the implanting of the microchip as well as the lifetime registration of the microchip. It is quick and easy can be done at the time of your pet’s appointment. Our veterinarians and staff at Town and Country Animal Hospital would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
TRAVEL FOR DOGS
Immunizations:
Confirm with your veterinarian that your dog is age appropriately current on its immunizations (vaccines). You want to ensure your dog is protected against common illnesses. Depending on your geographical location your dog may be more prone to certain diseases. For example, Lyme disease which is transmitted by Deer Ticks, is not as prevalent in Southwest Florida and so the Lyme Vaccine isn’t typically administered to dogs that live here year round. The Rabies vaccine is required by law for all dogs whether or not they are travelling.
Parasite prevention:
It is extremely important that dogs living or visiting Naples be on heartworm prevention. The reality is that we have a year round mosquito population. All it takes is one mosquito to bite a dog and that is how they become infected. It is unfortunate as we do have dogs test positive for heartworm disease at Town and Country Animal Hospital. When your dog spends part of the year in a colder climate year round heartworm prevention is not always discussed or recommended. If your dog is spending time in Naples or any where else that is warm, year round heartworm prevention is recommended. For further information refer to Dog Heartworm Treatment.
Year round flea infestation is not uncommon in Naples due to the warm climate and high humidity in Naples. In addition to causing a lot of itching, scratching and discomfort, flea infestation can also cause skin infections as well as transmit diseases. At Town and Country Animal Hospital we offer a variety of heartworm and flea preventions. Many of these products are available for purchase at our clinic or through our website at www.mynaplesvet.com or our online pharmacy https://mynaplesvet.covetruspharmacy.com/
Plane Travel:
Current airline guidelines allow dogs to travel in the main cabin provided they can fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you. While most airlines don’t provide a strict weight limit under 22 pounds seems to be a good guide. There are many types of carriers that people use when flying with their pets. Some people use soft carriers referred to as Sherpa’s, other people use collapsable/ expandable carriers while other people prefer hard carriers.
Many airports have ‘dog relief stations’ which provide an area for dogs to ‘relieve’ themselves when in the airport. However, it is always good to be prepared for your dog to have an accident while in transit. Consider lining your dog’s carrier with several layers of absorbable doggie pads so cleaning up an accident is less stressful. In the event your dog urinates or defecates while in the carrier you can simply fold up the soiled pad and remove it from the carrier and place it in a plastic grocery bag to dispose of later.
Allowing your dog time to become familiar with and to spend time in the carrier/ crate prior to the day of travel is important to minimize stress to both you and your dog. If your dog has never spent any time in a carrier introduce your pet to it several weeks prior to the day of travel. Place it on the floor in your home and allow your dog to see, sniff and become familiar with it. Encourage your dog to go into the crate using treats and positively praising fhem when they do so. being carried around in the closed carrier/ crate. Some dogs may adjust to the carrier quickly but other dogs may need more time. Continued verbal and positive reinforcement with treats can help make them more comfortable.
Anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed for dogs that are overly anxious. Administering the medication the night before and the morning of travel can often help result in better sedation to help your pet relax. Our Veterinarians can talk with you about your pet’s anxiety levels to prescribe the most appropriate anti-anxiety medications for your pet.
Health Certificates for Travel:
To ensure that pets are healthy and free of contagious diseases most airlines and immigration points require that pets have current Health Certificates. When checking in at the airport pet owners are technically required to present a current health certificate attesting to the fact that their pet is fit for travel and current on their rabies vaccine. Our veterinarians at Town and Country Animal Hospital maintain active licenses with the U.S. Department of agriculture to sign these certificates following a complete physical examination of your pet. These Health Certificates are good for 30 days from the day they are issued and need to be issued within 10 days of travel It is always recommend to plan ahead but we may have same day appointments available. Over the years many of our clients have told us that the airlines often don’t ask for this form. We always recommend that you check with your airline to avoid any complications when travelling with your pet.
International health certificates are required when travelling out of the country or overseas with your pet. Every country has different rules and regulations that are required for the importation of pets. It is not uncommon for a country to change preexisting rules. Our veterinarians and staff at Town and Country Animal Hospital work with clients and their pets to facilitate international travel. Planning as much as 6 months in advance is advised. A deposit is required at the time of booking an appointment for an International Health Certificate as we need to spend the time to research and advise you as to what the most current requirements are for your pet’s intended destination. Our experienced, local and knowledgeable veterinarians can help guide you through the process. You may also find the following website a good place to start. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel#modal-link-cdc-alert
